Cellphone Printer With Internal Ink Storage

ABSTRACT

A printer is provided for a mobile telephone. The printer includes a housing having a pair of elongate moldings capable of being connected together to define an ink ejection slot. The housing also includes an endcap configured to engage with an end of the moldings. An ink supply cartridge is housed within the housing and defines a plurality of ink storage reservoirs for storing respective types of ink. A printhead module is also housed within the housing and defines a plurality of ink distribution channels in fluid communication with respective ink storage reservoirs. The printhead module includes an elongate array of ink ejection nozzles in fluid communication with the ink distribution channels and aligned with the ink ejection slot so that ink can be ejected through the ink ejection slot.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/503,924 filed on Aug. 9, 2004, which is a 371 ofPCT/AU03/00169 filed on Feb. 12, 2003 all of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to mobile telecommunications devices, inparticular mobile telephones, and peripheral devices giving currentmobile telephones greater functionality. Specifically, the presentinvention relates to mobile telephones having an internal colourprinter.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the commercially successful models of mobile telephoneshave been the ones which have been the most compact. The desire forsmall size has prevented other devices, most notably printers, frombeing incorporated into the housings of mobile telephones.

Prior art printers incorporate a supply of print media into the printerand employ a print media feed mechanism to transport the print mediapast the printhead(s) to effect printing onto the print media. It isessential during a printing operation to synchronise the speed of theprint media with the printing rate of the printhead(s) to ensure afaithful reproduction of the image being printed. Heretofore, thesynchronisation of the print media with the printhead(s) has beenrelatively simple to accomplish because the print media feed mechanism,including the supply of print media, forms an integral part of theprinter. The speed of the print media is therefore known and fixed, asis the speed at which the printhead(s) and print controller operate,with synchronisation between these features being accomplished usingsimple mechanical features such as gears, stepper motors and the like.

Such features however, in particular the need to have a supply of printmedia accommodated within the printer, have made these printers largerand heavier than they otherwise need be. Even in more compact printersemploying a monolithic page-width drop-on-demand printhead arrangementof the type described in the above mentioned co-pending applications,where the printhead is fixed, there is still a need to have a supply ofprint media and a print media drive mechanism integral to the printer toensure proper synchronisation between ink ejection and the motion of theprint media. Up until now these requirements have limited the minimumpossible printer size and have precluded the possibility of a printerbeing incorporated into a device such as a compact mobile telephone.

CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present inventionare disclosed in the following co-pending applications filed by theapplicant or assignee of the present invention simultaneously with thepresent application: PCT/AU03/00145 PCT/AU03/00146 PCT/AU03/00147PCT/AU03/00148 PCT/AU03/00149 PCT/AU03/00150 PCT/AU03/00151PCT/AU03/00152 PCT/AU03/00153 PCT/AU03/00154 PCT/AU03/00155PCT/AU03/00156 PCT/AU03/00157 PCT/AU03/00158 PCT/AU03/00159PCT/AU03/00160 PCT/AU03/00162 PCT/AU03/00163 PCT/AU03/00164PCT/AU03/00165 PCT/AU03/00166 PCT/AU03/00167 PCT/AU03/00168PCT/AU03/00169 PCT/AU03/00170 PCT/AU03/00171The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated hereinby cross-reference.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS

6566858 6331946 6246970 6442525 PCT/AU01/00141 09/505951 PCT/AU01/001396816968 6757832 PCT/AU01/00140 PCT/AU00/00741 6238044 PCT/AU00/007426425661 6227652 6213588 6213589 6231163 6247795 6394581 6244691 62577046416168 6220694 6257705 6247794 6234610 6247793 6264306 6241342 62477926264307 6254220 6234611 6302528 6283582 6239821 6338547 6247796 65579776390603 6362843 6293653 6312107 6227653 6234609 6238040 6188415 62276546209989 6247791 6336710 6217153 6416167 6243113 6283581 6247790 62609536267469 6273544 6309048 6420196 6443558 6439689 6378989 6848181 6634735PCT/AU98/00550 PCT/AU00/00095 6390605 6322195 6612110 6480089 64607786305788 PCT/AU00/00172 6426014 PCT/AU00/00338 6364453 PCT/AU00/003396457795 PCT/AU00/00581 6315399 PCT/AU00/00580 6338548 PCT/AU00/005826540319 PCT/AU00/00587 6328431 PCT/AU00/00588 6328425 PCT/AU00/005896991320 PCT/AU00/00341 6595624 PCT/AU00/00340 PCT/AU00/00749 6417757PCT/AU01/01332 7095309 PCT/AU01/01318 6854825 PCT/AU00/00750 7075677PCT/AU00/00751 6428139 PCT/AU00/00752 6575549 PCT/AU01/00502PCT/AU00/00583 6383833 PCT/AU02/01120 PCT/AU00/00593 6464332PCT/AU00/00333 PCT/AU00/01513 6428142 PCT/AU00/00590 6390591PCT/AU00/00591 7018016 PCT/AU00/00592 6328417 PCT/AU00/00584 6322194PCT/AU00/00585 6382779 PCT/AU00/00586 6629745 PCT/AU00/01514 6565193PCT/AU00/01515 6609786 PCT/AU00/01516 6609787 PCT/AU00/01517 6439908PCT/AU00/01512 6684503 PCT/AU00/00753 6755513 PCT/AU00/00594 6409323PCT/AU00/00595 6281912 PCT/AU00/00596 6604810 PCT/AU00/00597 6318920PCT/AU00/00598 6488422 PCT/AU01/01321 6655786 PCT/AU01/01322 6457810PCT/AU01/01323 6485135 PCT/AU00/00516 6795215 PCT/AU00/00517 7154638PCT/AU00/00511 6859289 PCT/AU00/00754 6977751 PCT/AU00/00755 6398332PCT/AU00/00756 6394573 PCT/AU00/00757 6622923

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided amobile telecommunications device comprising a casing, a display,circuitry for wireless telecommunications housed within the casing and aprinter housed within the casing, the printer comprising:

a printhead arrangement adapted to effect printing onto print media asthe printer is moved relative to the print media, the printheadarrangement including a plurality of ink ejection nozzles;

an ink supply adapted to store ink and to supply the ink to theprinthead arrangement;

a speed sensor adapted to measure the speed at which the printheadarrangement is moved relative to the print media and to generate speeddata; and a print controller adapted to:

(a) receive image data from an image source;

(b) convert the image data into a plurality of drop ejection controlsignals;

(c) receive the speed data from the speed sensor; and

(d) operate the ink ejection nozzles in the printhead arrangement inaccordance with the drop ejection control signals at a rate determinedusing the speed data, to thereby effect printing of the image data ontothe print media.

Preferably, the speed sensor comprises:

an optical encoder wheel adapted to be in contact with the print mediaand to rotate as the device is moved relative to the print media, theoptical encoder wheel having a series of circumferentially spacedmarkings thereon; and an optical sensor adapted to:

(a) detect the markings as the markings pass the optical sensor duringrotation of the optical encoder wheel; and

(b) generate the speed data from the detected markings.

Preferably, the ink supply is removable from the printer.

Preferably, the device further comprises a capping arrangement moveablebetween a capped position in which the capping arrangement substantiallyobstructs the ejection of ink from the ink ejection nozzles and anuncapped position in which the capping arrangement does notsubstantially obstruct the ejection of ink from the ink ejectionnozzles.

Preferably, the device further comprises a capping actuator disposed onthe device so as to be operable by a user as the user moves theprinthead arrangement relative to the print media.

Preferably, the device further comprises a biasing member adapted tobias the capping arrangement towards the capped position.

Preferably, the print controller receives the image data from the imagesource via the circuitry for wireless telecommunications. Morepreferably, the image data is received at the circuitry for wirelesstelecommunications from a wireless telecommunications network.

Preferably, the device further comprises a memory adapted to store theimage data.

Preferably, the image to be printed is displayed on the device display.

Preferably, the printer further comprises a replaceable ink cartridge.

Preferably, the device further comprises one or more ink inlets throughwhich the ink supply may be replenished.

Preferably, the device further comprises a digital camera including alens and CCD array, and wherein image data captured by the CCD array isdisplayed on the display of the telecommunications device.

Preferably, the printer is adapted to print images captured by thedigital camera.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only withreference to preferred embodiments and to the accompanying drawings inwhich:—

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mobile telecommunications devicewith an in-built printer in use, printing an image onto a page of printmedia;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a printer used in the mobiletelecommunications device;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the printer;

FIG. 4 is an underside perspective of the printer;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a mobile telephone having aninternal printer;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective of the mobile telephone;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the mobile telephone;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of a mobile telephone with an in-builtdigital camera;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the mobile telephone of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the mobile telephone of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the mobile telephone of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 12 is a transverse cross-section of the mobile telephone of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile telecommunications device according to thepresent invention is shown generally at 100. The telecommunicationsdevice 100 is a mobile telephone having an internal printer and isdepicted in FIG. 1 as moving, under the guidance of a user (not shown),across a page 20 of print media in the direction of the arrow 21 toprint an image 22 on the page 20.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the mobile telephone 100 includesstandard features such as a keypad 101, navigation keys 102, displayscreen 103, volume buttons 104, speaker 105 and microphone 106. Thetelephone also includes charging contacts 107, power socket 108 andhands free jack 109. A printer unit 10 is received through an opening inthe side of the telephone casing.

An exploded view of the telephone 100 is illustrated in FIG. 7.Assembled views are shown in FIGS. 8 to 11. With reference to thesefigures, the telephone includes an upper moulding 301, base moulding 302and cover moulding 303. The upper moulding 301 has a first series ofapertures 306 that receive keypad and navigation keys from anelastomeric keypad 308. A second aperture 309 receives a lens moulding310.

A rigid printed circuit board (PCB) 312 is held firmly between the uppermoulding 301 and base moulding 302. As is known, the PCB 312 containsthe majority of the telephone circuitry, in particular a speaker 313,colour LCD display 314 and an aerial 315. A SIM card 316 containing IDcodes and command circuitry as is known in the art is received in aninternal aperture 319 in the base moulding 302 and electricallycommunicates with the PCB 312 in a known manner.

The base moulding 302 has a recess 321 in its upper surface thatreceives the PCB 312 and aerial 315. A cut-away section is provided inthe lower portion of the base moulding 302 to receive a standard mobiletelephone battery 322 and the printer unit 10, further details of whichare described below.

The base moulding 302 further includes charging contact apertures 323,power socket aperture 324 and hands free jack aperture 325.

The cover moulding 303 removably fits with the base moulding 302 toprovide an access to the battery 322 and SIM card 316.

Details of the printer unit 10 will now be described with reference toFIGS. 2 to 4. Although FIGS. 2 to 4 depict a stand-alone swipe printer,having a slightly different shape from the printer depicted in FIG. 7,those skilled in the art will appreciate that many of the features ofthe two printers are common and need not be described with specificreference to this mobile telecommunications device version of theprinter.

An exploded view of the printer 10 is shown in FIG. 2. The printer 10includes a lower moulding 11, upper moulding 12 and removable end cap 13each of which may be formed of any suitable plastics, metal or similarmaterial.

The upper and lower mouldings each include media slides 14 formed ateach end of the mouldings on the bottom surface thereof. The slides 14protrude from the bottom surface of the mouldings and serve to elevatethe printer as the printer traverses the print media resulting inminimal friction between the printhead and print media and preventingcontact between the printer and freshly printed ink which couldotherwise disturb the printed image.

When joined, the upper and lower mouldings reveal an ink ejection slotthrough which ink is ejected during printing. A capping device 50,preferably of metal is received in a recess 17 formed in the uppermoulding 12. The capping device 50, moves from a position in which acapping arm 52 of the capper 50 blocks the ink ejection slot 15 to aposition where ink ejection is unrestricted.

Internally, the printer 10 includes a printhead module 30 in which isdisposed a plurality of ink distribution channels leading to an array ofink ejection nozzles 31 aligned with the ink ejection slot 15 formedbetween the upper and lower mouldings 12, 11. An ink supply cartridge 32stores coloured inks, preferably in four colours namely cyan, magenta,yellow and black, to provide for full colour printing. Alternatively, orin addition, infra-red ink may be provided. The ink cartridge 32supplies ink to the ink distribution channels of the printhead module 30through an ink connector 33.

Any one of a number of known printhead modules and ink supply systemsmay be suitable for use with the present invention and thus furtherdescription of such features is omitted here. Details of printheadmodules and ink supply systems suitable for use with the invention canbe found in the above-mentioned co-pending applications of the presentapplicant.

A print controller 36 includes a microprocessor that converts image datastored in microprocessor memory into a sequence of electrical “dropejection” signals. The signals are communicated to the printhead module30 in a known manner during a print operation to cause selectiveejection of ink from the ink ejection nozzles 31.

The print control microprocessor 36 communicates with the circuitry ofthe PCB 312 to receive print instructions and digital image data.

When the printer unit 10 is properly engaged in the mobile telephone100, power contacts of the printer unit (not shown) connect with thepower supply circuits of the mobile telephone.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the end cap 13 is removable from the printer10 to reveal an aperture 47 through which the ink cartridge may bereplaced.

To perform printing, a user commands the printer using the navigationkeys 102 and actuates the capper 50, in a manner described below, toexpose the printhead chip 30 (FIG. 4) to the print media. The printmedia may be any suitable textile for receiving the type of ink storedin the printer and may include inter alia paper, cardboard, wood, fabricand plastics. The telephone 100 may include a control button depressedby the user to initiate printing (that is, to commence the ejection ofink from the printhead under the control of the print controlmicroprocessor.) Alternatively, actuation of the capper 16 may bedetected as a signal that the user is ready for the printing tocommence. The user then traverses the print media 20 with the telephone100 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

To control the printing rate, the printer 10 includes an optical encoderwheel 39 (FIG. 2) attached to the printhead module 30 atone end thereof.The optical encoder wheel 39 is received in slots 41 a, 41 b formed inthe upper and lower mouldings respectively and extends from themouldings to the point where the rim of the wheel 39 is level with themedia slides 14 (see FIG. 4). Circumferentially spaced markings on theoptical encoder wheel 39 are read by an optical sensor on themicroprocessor 36 as the wheel 39 rotates in contact with the printmedia.

The optical sensor includes a light source, such as an LED, and aphoto-detector that produces an electrical response dependent upon theamount of light incident upon the detector. The light reflectioncharacteristics of the encoder wheel 39 vary between the marked andun-marked areas and thus as the markings rotate past the detector, achange in the detector response occurs. The frequency at which thedetector response changes provides a measurement of the speed at whichthe encoder wheel is rotating and therefore the speed at which thetelephone is moving relative to the print media.

The detector response is communicated to the print controlmicroprocessor 36 which uses the signal to calculate the speed at whichthe printhead module is being moved across the print media. The printcontroller then synchronises the rate at which the drop ejection controlsignals are passed to the ink ejection nozzles with the measured speedof the printer. The printer 10 is therefore able to ensure appropriateprint dot spacing of successive lines of print and thus create afaithful reproduction of the printed image even though the printer doesnot control the speed at which the print media moves relative to theprinthead.

Furthermore, if the number of markings on the encoder wheel 39 is highenough, the microprocessor 36 is able to quickly adapt to the variationsin the speed at which a user may move the printer across the print mediathereby achieving a higher quality image.

An idler wheel 44 is attached to the opposite end of the printheadmodule 30 to allow stability and directional control of the printer. Ashaft may connect the idler wheel 44 with the encoder wheel 39 tosynchronise the rotation speeds of each wheel.

The optical encoder wheel 39 and/or idler wheel 44 may have a speedlimiter such as a friction clutch that prevents a user from moving theprinter along the print media at a rate faster than the maximum rate ofoperation of the printhead module 30. Furthermore, either or both wheelsmay have a system such as a ratchet for preventing the printer frombeing moved in a direction opposite to the direction of printing.

In the embodiment shown, digital image data may be provided to themicroprocessor 36 from an external image source via a wirelesstelecommunications network and received via the antenna 315 and PCB 312.

Alternatively, the digital image data may be received from an externaldevice such as a computer using an infra-red (IR) signal transmittedthrough an IR window formed in the casing of the mobile telephone. Insuch an embodiment an IR receiver electrically connected to themicroprocessor 36 receives the data which is then stored in theprocessor memory. In alternative embodiments (not shown), themicroprocessor may communicate through any other suitable connection forexample, hard wire connections to other electronic devices (such ascomputers, scanners, copiers, digital cameras), wirelesstelecommunications (such as WAP) or through a plug and socket connectionor data port. Other information, for example print control instructions,may also be provided to the printer from external devices using theabove systems. In a further embodiment, the microprocessor may have itsown graphics generating capabilities.

For example, as depicted in FIG. 8, the mobile telephone 100 may have anin-built camera module. In this embodiment, a lens 401 is formed in thebase moulding 302. Light passing through the lens 401 is incident on aCCD array. The CCD array communicates a digital image to the printcontrol microprocessor for printing. Camera operation keys areincorporated into the keypad 102 of the telephone.

In the embodiment described herein, the printer unit 10 includes areplaceable ink cartridge. As an alternative, the mobile telephone 100may be provided with an integral ink reservoir that is re-charged withink from an ink charging stand using an ink charging system, furtherdetails of which are provided in the present applicant's co-pendingapplications (Attorney Docket numbers AP52 and AP53) cross-referencedabove. An ink charging system of the type referred to above utilises inkinlets 327 of the print unit 10 as seen in FIGS. 5 and 7. By using anink charging system of the type referred to, the printer unit 10 neednot be as readily removable as would otherwise be necessary becauseremoval of the printer unit 10 will only be required for maintenance ofthe printhead.

FIG. 12 is a transverse cross section of the mobile telephone 100 ofFIG. 5. In this figure, there is shown a capping mechanism 50 of thetype described in the present applicant's co-pending application(Attorney Docket No AP44) cross-referenced above. The capping mechanismis mounted on the printer unit 10 in a manner that allows movement of acapping arm 52 from a position in which the capping arm 52 obstructs theejection of ink from the printhead chip 30 to a position as illustratedwhere ejection of ink from the printhead chip 30 is uninhibited.

Actuation of the capping mechanism 50 to its uncapped position can occurin any suitable manner, including but not limited to those examplesdescribed in the applicant's co-pending application (Attorney Docket NoAP44) cross-referenced above. For example, actuation of the capper mayoccur using a friction clutch operating in conjunction with the encoderwheel 39, a solenoid actuator, or a finger-operated actuator exposedthrough the casing of the mobile telephone 100.

The configuration of the printhead module and ink reservoir within thetelephone casing may be varied to suit the particular model and stylingof the telephone. The embodiments described previously utilise aside-edge printhead with an integral recharging ink reservoir.

Alternative embodiments include configurations where the printhead isexposed through a bottom or top edge of the telephone casing and haseither integral or replaceable ink cartridges as required.

While the invention has been described with particular reference tomobile telephones, it will be apparent to the person skilled in the artthat the invention is suitable for application in many other portableelectronic devices, including but not limited to, Wireless InternetAccess Devices (WIADs) in particular Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)terminals, pagers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and the like.While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, itwill be evident to those skilled in the art that the present inventionmay be embodied in other specific forms without departing from theessential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examplesare therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which comewithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are thereforeintended to be embraced therein.

1. A printer for a mobile telephone, the printer comprising: a housingassembly including a pair of elongate moldings capable of beingconnected together to define an ink ejection slot and an endcapconfigured to engage an end of the moldings; an ink supply cartridgehoused within the housing assembly and defining a plurality of inkstorage reservoirs for storing respective types of ink; and a printheadmodule housed within the housing assembly and defining a plurality ofink distribution channels in fluid communication with respective inkstorage reservoirs, the printhead module including an elongate array ofink ejection nozzles in fluid communication with the ink distributionchannels and aligned with the ink ejection slot so that ink can beejected through the ink ejection slot.
 2. A printer as claimed in claim1, wherein the housing assembly includes a capping device which ismovably mounted relative to the moldings so that it can be moved to capthe ink ejection slot.
 3. A printer as claimed in claim 2, wherein thecapping device has a substantially “L” shaped member.
 4. A printer asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the housing assembly has a pair ofprotruding slides located on either side of the ink ejection slot tofacilitate sliding of the printer across print media when ink is ejectedon to the print media.
 5. A printer as claimed in claim 4, wherein theprinthead module includes an optical encoder wheel which protrudes fromthe housing and engages with the print media so that the ink is ejectedresponsive to the movement of the optical encoder wheel along the printmedia.
 6. A printer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the printhead modulefurther includes an idler wheel located at an opposite end of the inkejection slot to the optical encoder wheel, the idler wheel alsoprotruding from the housing and engaging with the print media during inkejection.
 7. A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ink supplycartridge has a rectangular cross-section with an internal wallstructure partitioning the cartridge into a quartet of ink storagereservoirs.